Business Directories

Two-day weekend proposal stays: Saudi ministry

RIYADH, August 28, 2014

The Saudi Labor Ministry has clarified that it has no plans to withdraw a proposal for 40-hour work week and two-day weekend system in the private sector, a report said.

The ministry said the revised labor law has already been presented to higher authorities for approval, the Arab News report said.

Two-day weekends and 40-hour work weeks remains part of the new draft labor law, Tayseer Al-Mufarrej, ministry spokesman was quoted as saying following reports about moves to withdraw the proposal after pressure from businesses.

The rumors being circulated on social media sites are not true, the spokesman said.

The Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) had objected to the two-day weekend, saying such a move would lead to huge losses among construction, operation and maintenance businesses.

The council had also argued that the private sector would be forced to recruit at least 30 percent more expats to stay on schedule.